The La Sportiva Grand Tour of Skiddaw

The La Sportiva Grand Tour of Skiddaw is an approximately 44 mile fully waymarked ultra trail race taking in the beautiful Northern Lake District with a climb up the mighty Skiddaw at the approximate halfway point, giving a total of 7136 feet of ascent. The route is almost entirely run on public footpaths and bridleways, starting and finishing at Lime House School near Dalston. It then follows the River Caldew, winding through fields and woods until you reach Caldbeck. From here, the scenery changes to the stunning and remote feeling Caldbeck Fells, where you make your way past Skiddaw House to the car park at Latrigg. The climb up Skiddaw follows, after visiting the summit you descend via Longside Edge giving fantastic views over Bassenthwaite. Then you contour round passing through Orthwaite, Branthwaite and Fell Side before the route brings you back to Caldbeck and the return journey to Lime House School along the banks of the River Caldew.

The La Sportiva Grand Tour of Skiddaw takes place on Saturday 31st August 2019, with the race starting at 8am. All of our runners and supporters are welcome to stay over, gather round the Finish Firepit, enjoy a pizza and a couple of beers, maybe a free s'mores and bring their dancing feet to the Post Race Party on Saturday night...

Where?

The Start and Finish venue is the beautiful Lime House School, Holm Hill, Dalston, Cumbria, CA5 7BX. The school is set in it’s own impressive grounds which will provide parking and camping for our runners for the entire weekend. There will be showers, toilets and catering available.

The Route?

The La Sportiva Grand Tour of Skiddaw is a fully waymarked route with 4 Checkpoints supplying drinks, snacks and kind words. The Checkpoints will be located at Caldbeck Parish Hall, a marquee adjacent to Latrigg car park, Peter House Farm and again at Caldbeck Parish Hall. All runners will receive a hot meal, hot drinks and a free beer at the Finish, maybe even a hug from Bev and Clare if you're lucky...

Cut Offs?

There will be cut off times enforced at all 4 Checkpoints. These are based on a generous 22 minute/mile pace. Any competitor who hasn't LEFT the checkpoint by the cut off time will be timed out and not allowed to continue in the event.

Caldbeck 1 - 3 hour cut off - 11:00

Latrigg - 7.5 hour cut off - 15:30

Peter House Farm - 10 hour cut off - 18:00

Caldbeck 2 - 13.5 hour cut off - 21:30

Finish - 16.5 hour cut off - 24:30

The 2018 gpx file and 2018 Route Notes (written description of the route) are available to download below.

Every Solo runner and Pair will carry a tracker provided by Open Tracking. The trackers transmit their location to the Open Tracking website. Their latest position and the overall route are displayed on a map which updates automatically. During the event viewers can select a participants' or team name and look at the detailed route they have taken.

Enter The Event?

The La Sportiva Grand Tour of Skiddaw is open to runners aged 18 years or over on race day. Due to the nature of the race we advise that runners are experienced marathon and/or ultra distance runners.

Entries are only available online. There are no postal entries available. You must provide a valid email address for all race correspondence. All online payments are safe and secure.

Online entries will receive an email confirmation of entry. All runners will receive a pre race email approximately one week prior to race day with all 'on the day' information. All runners will collect their race number at Registration. Entries will close at midnight on Sunday 25th August 2019. There will be no entries on the day.

Entry fee including tracker hire:

Solo - £65

Pair - £115

Registration?

Registration will open on Friday 30th August at the Sports Hall, Lime House School, from 5pm-10pm and again between 6am-7am on Saturday 31st. All runners must provide a photo form of id (drivers licence, passport) and their vehicle registration number, if parking onsite at Lime House School. All runners will collect their race number, technical event vest, tracker and SI Timing Card at Registration and then proceed to Kit Check. Every runner, including Pairs, must have their Kit checked at Registration; any runner found to be missing any items from the Mandatory Kit List will not be allowed to compete.

Mandatory Kit List?

The following items MUST be carried during the event. There will be a Kit Check for ALL runners pre race and post race spot kit checks. Any runner found not to be carrying the FULL Mandatory Kit List will be disqualified. This rule is for the runners’ safety, which is our main priority.

Waterproof jacket and trousers with taped seams. Windproof or showerproof will not be accepted

Spare long sleeved base layer top

Hat and gloves

Head torch plus spare batteries

Mobile phone (fully charged)

Tracker (supplied)

Compass (mobile app not accepted)

Emergency Foil Blanket or Bivi bag

First Aid Kit to include blister plasters, sterile dressing and tape as a minimum

Whistle

Mug or cup

Sufficient food and drink. The runners will be self sufficient between Checkpoints

Parking?

Free parking is provided for one vehicle per runner onsite from Friday to Sunday.

Where to stay?

Camping is provided @ £5 per night for one tent/campervan per runner onsite from Friday to Sunday pm. Lime House school must be vacated by 5pm on Sunday 1st. The camping is pre bookable and paid via the online entry system. If sleeping under the stars isn’t your thing, then Thornfield Camping Cabins are located across the road from Lime House School or check out www.golakes.co.uk or www.caldbeckvillage.co.uk for places to stay locally.

Prizes?

There are prizes for the first, second and third male and female solo runners and the first, second and third pairs. There will be a Prize Presentation held in the Sports Hall on Sunday 1st September, at 12 noon. The prizes will be presented by Mr Billy Bland, legendary fell runner. Billy will be holding a Q&A session during the Prize Presentation, come along and meet a straight talking and very funny running hero; a true Cumbrian gent!

Post Race Party?

Cram your feet into your dancing shoes (or lounge about with your feet up, we don’t mind) and join us at the Post Race Party! it’ll be a chance to let your hair down, replace those lost calories and swap race stories!

First Aid?

First Aiders will be available at the Start/Finish and there’ll be mobile First Aiders around the route.

Photographers?

The official event photographer Paul Mitchell will be out on the route so smile nicely! You’ll be able to download the event photos for free from the facebook page after the event.

Dogs?

We regret that runners are not allowed to run with their dogs. This rule has been enforced by the Lake District National Park Authority due to the SSSI nature of Caldbeck and Uldale Commons. You are welcome to bring your dog along to Lime House School, please keep them on a lead at all times and obviously clean up after them.

Charity?

The La Sportiva Grand Tour of Skiddaw supports Keswick Mountain Rescue who currently have 45 volunteers who are available 24/7, 365 days per year to assist those in distress and lost on the mountains. Online donations will be available during the online entry process.

We will be happy to offer a 50% refund of the entry fee up until 2 months prior to The La Sportiva Grand Tour of Skiddaw or a transfer to the following year. After this time we regret that we will not be able to provide any refund, or credit either in part or in full, whatever the circumstances of the entrants' non-attendance. Competitors will be allowed to transfer their entry to another runner via the online entry system, up until the entries close on 25th August.

Contact Us

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